“For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with Him is plentiful redemption.” — Psalm 130:7 (ESV)
His Love Has Redeemed Us
The eternal redemption afforded to us by the powerful sacrifice of Jesus is a wonderful, life-giving demonstration of God’s unconditional, unchanging love. I’ve gone through much of my life feeling condemned. I look at my thoughts, actions, reactions and failures and apply my condemning perspective to my perception of my Heavenly Father. But in reality, He has so faithfully demonstrated His overwhelming love to me through the securing of my redemption. In reality, He truly loves me just as I am even with all my failures and faults. Colossians 1:19-22 (ESV) says:
“For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in Heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him.”
God sees you and me as “holy and blameless.” Through His love we have been totally redeemed: set right before the God whose perspectives and beliefs are true above all else. When He says we are redeemed, that truth is now meant to be at the foundation of all we think, believe and do.
Psalm 130:7 (ESV) says, “O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with Him is plentiful redemption.” You and I are redeemed apart from anything we do. We are made holy apart from any inherent ability or worthiness we possess. God’s passionate desire for restored relationship with us caused Him to secure what you and I could never attain on our own: the eternal redemption of all who believe in Jesus Christ.
So what does it mean for you to be redeemed? What effect does redemption have on your day today? 1 Peter 1:14-15 (ESV) says, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” Live your life today in light of the redemption secured for you by Jesus. Allow the Holy Spirit to do a mighty work and help you live differently today than you did yesterday.
Your past failures and weaknesses do not define you. Your present misconceptions and sins can be forgiven, healed and transformed this instant. Jesus made a clear path for you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received (Ephesians 4:1). All that is required of you is to believe, trust, open your heart to God, and live today in the constant communion God desires with you. May your day today be filled with the life-giving transformation and freedom that comes from living in light of your present redemption.
— Craig Denison, First 15
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